Dr. Foodle’s Top 5 Medicinal Foods

Food choice is truly the cornerstone of good health. Dr. Foodle has explored the nutritional benefits of good food, but now it’s time to focus on something a bit different: the medicinal benefits found in common foods. Not only can proper food choice provide your body with everything it needs, but it can also help to fight pesky alignments or help to combat chronic conditions. Of course, if you are suffering from a health issue, going to the doctor and getting properly diagnosed is key, but these foods can help, too.

Coconuts

Coconuts are an incredibly common fruit and devoured by millions of people every day. Coconut is also an extremely versatile fruit, it’s flesh, water, and oils can all be consumed, and all of them are not only nutritionally beneficial, but they have extraordinary medicinal properties to them. It’s been documented that populations that consume lots of coconuts have significantly lower cholesterol levels than populations that don’t. For women, there are additional benefits, and due to the effect of coconut in the body, it can offset the need for artificial hormones, which have been linked to adverse health effects.

Chinese Wolfberry / Goji Berries

Goji berries, also known as Chinese Wolfberries, are becoming increasingly popular all over the world as the known health benefits become more known. In China, the bright red berries have been known for their medicinal properties for centuries, and recent scientific studies have confirmed the ancient knowledge. Due to the effect of various chemical compounds found in the berries on the human body, goji berries help to cleanse and improve function in several vital organs as well as boost the body’s immune system.

Turkey

It’s common knowledge that turkey makes people sleepy, and the same compound responsible for making people sleepy, Lycopene, also has some medicinal properties. In a recent study conducted on rats, doctors found that diabetic rats who ingested Lycopene saw their insulin levels start to balance out. As a result, Lycopene-rich foods, such as turkey, can help people to control their insulin levels and create better health.

Turmeric

Turmeric is often used as a bright yellow powder to flavor curries, but it can do a whole lot more than offer some spice. Turmeric has been used by various cultures to help alleviate a wide array of symptoms, everything from headaches to ringworm, and recent studies have proven the wisdom in old knowledge. Turmeric is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and a potent antioxidant. Because of those various properties, turmeric can be used to help alleviate dozens of different symptoms.

Dates

Dates are an extremely popular fruit the world over and have often been used for their medicinal benefits. Dates are extremely nutritionally dense, just chalked full of vital minerals and vitamins, but also provide some extraordinary medicinal properties. They have both antioxidant and antimutagenic properties, making them effective at preventing cancer, and are also a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory. On top of that, they have also been proven to lower cholesterol as well. Few other foods can trump the date for either its nutritional or medicinal benefits.

About Author

Ian lives and works in Calgary, Alberta, and has been a part of the restaurant industry for over 10 years. He studied at Mount Royal University, and when he isn't writing and researching about food, he's working on another novel or cooking up tasty dishes in restaurants across the city. He lives with his partner, Valerie, and their two lovely cats.